This is the home of the running game, the school where the only thing they collect more than national titles (three in the last four years) are national rushing titles (seven in the last 10).

Yet, in the last two weeks against Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, the Cornhuskers have gained a total -- a total -- of 214 yards on the ground.

For the love of Bob Devaney, Kansas rushed for 176 yards against Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.

"There are a lot of questions about this Nebraska football team," KU coach Terry Allen said.

Answers could be forthcoming tonight, when Kansas visits eighth-ranked NU at Memorial Stadium for a 6:07 kickoff. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net.

Questions have really flown since last Saturday, when A&M broke a Husker winning streak that spanned 19 games and 22 months. But all season, at least statistically, Nebraska has been un-Nebraska-like.

The Huskers are 11th nationally in rushing offense -- third in the Big 12 -- with an average of 237.8 yards a game. They're 36th in total offense and (404.5 yards per game) and 16th in scoring offense (36.3 points per game).

They led the nation in all three statistical categories during last season's 13-0 run to a share of the national title.

"There's no question that we can be a good running team," senior fullback Joel Makovicka said. "When we looked at the film, we were a couple of blocks on each play from having big plays. But it's something where we're stopping ourselves -- we don't have 11 guys executing on offense."

That's understandable. This is a team that replaced four starters in the offensive line and seven in its offense, including the quarterback.

Nebraska also has battled key injuries all season. Bobby Newcombe, who converted from wingback to quarterback to replace departed starter Scott Frost, has been affected all season by a knee injury, and starting I-back DeAngelo Evans started late and has been slowed all season as well.

All of which begs the question: Are the Huskers vulnerable?

"The vulnerability, I don't know," Allen said. "But the recipe, I've got a pretty good idea.

"A&M did what A&M could do. They player good defense. They made some changes up front that caused confusion with a relatively young offensive line and a relatively inexperienced quarterback. Offensively, they did what they had to do -- they got three big plays, and that was about it.

"You have to play good defense. You have to take advantage when you have chances offensively, and you have to play flawlessly in the special teams."

To Kansas' detriment, the game is at NU's Memorial Stadium, where the Huskers have the nation's longest active winning streak at 45 games. In the Jayhawks' favor, however, is the knowledge that they played Texas A&M closer than Nebraska, even leading late into the fourth quarter.

"We all feel like we should have beaten Oklahoma State and A&M," KU senior tailback Dustin Curry said. "If you watch the film, Oklahoma State should have beaten Nebraska and A&M did. We know we can play with them."

Notes

Kansas has lost 29 straight to the Huskers, dating to its Orange Bowl season of 1968, when Pepper Rodgers' sixth-ranked Jayhawks pulled off a 23-13 win over ninth-ranked NU in Lincoln.

In addition to OSU and A&M, Kansas and Nebraska both have played Alabama-Birmingham as well. Nebraska downed the Blazers 38-7 after leading just 24-7 entering the fourth quarter. Kansas downed UAB 39-37 in an NCAA-record-tying four overtimes.

Saturday's game will be the 93rd consecutive meeting between KU and NU, which makes it the longest uninterrupted series in college football and the third-longest series overall.

Connections: KU running backs coach Michael Garrison spent one season (1973) as a freshman wide receiver at Nebraska before transferring to Nebraska-Omaha. ...

Kevin Coleman, who spent three years on Nebraska's strength staff, is in his second season as head strength coach for KU's football team. ... NU running backs coach Dave Gillespie spent the last four season on the Kansas staff.

Osborne, the only collegiate football coach ever to retire as the reigning national champion, continues to work part-time for the university as a fund-raiser. He also teaches two classes at NU.

Nebraska has 30 former players on current NFL rosters. Kansas has 11.

The game

Kickoff -- 6:07 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb. (72,700).

Radio -- KMAJ-AM (1490), KMAJ-FM (107.7).

Records -- Kansas 2-4 overall, 0-4 Big 12; Nebraska 5-1, 2-1.

Tickets -- Memorial Stadium is sold out for an NCAA-record 224th consecutive game.